Transportation while travelling is something of a romantic ideal to me. Wherever we trip across the globe, I’ll invariably return with a story where the means of getting from one place to the other is the central premise of the…
New York is just a city?
New York City. It’s long been a holy grail for travelers. One might say it is the default capital of the world, but I’ve always harboured a suspicion that New York City is nothing more than – a city. Sure,…
Jealousy and Longing in the Middle East
I miss Egypt. Not just Egypt actually, but the Middle East in general. Forget the modern monoliths of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, what I yearn for is the excitement of exploration and the thrill of being set adrift…
Meeting Linh: Part 2
The phone’s ring dragged me from blissful slumber, and I hadn’t even accepted the call when my stomach leapt into my mouth and wrenched me in to full consciousness. I was still bumbling through apologies as I stepped into the…
Fuelling new Discoveries
Running out of – or at least grossly miscalculating – fuel is almost a rite of passage for the seasoned overland traveller. I’v lost count of the number of times that I’ve spent long stretches of road sweating the minute…
A short trip in a big state
Western Australia is massive. All that space houses a relatively modest population with a few far removed settlements – some of which are almost large enough to be classified as towns. In face, with the exception of Mandurah and perhaps…
An open letter to (WA) Drivers
Dear Western Australian drivers (may be applicable to drivers in other locales), Hi, you probably don’t know me. I’m that guy sitting in the oncoming lane. I know you haven’t noticed me, because you’re trash texting your mate about how…
Mid- Level detour – Hong Kong
Darkness had fallen over Hong Kong and a chilly wind had brought temperatures down to less than 10 degrees as I looked out over the city. The tramline that ran up Victoria Peak continued to ferry passengers, crushed in the…
Barber Shop Photos 20 – Nile Feluca
One of the highlights of my 2009 trip to Egypt was a two day cruise along the Nile River. This was special as we took a traditional Feluca, rather than the steamers that paddle their way up and down the…
Barber Shop Photos 13 – Nullarbor
Road trips can be an epic undertaking in Australia and one of the largest I attempted was moving from Brisbane to Perth. I decided to make a quick crossing as my brother took time off to accompany me. The…
On the train to Colombo
I have never loved crowds. I have quite the knack for avoiding situations where I have to deal with being crushed against hundreds of sweaty bodies. I shun most events that mean that I’ll have to jostle, fight, bite and…
Sinai 2009 – part 2
Did you miss part 1 of this story? Why not catch it here first? The desert evening was cold and we were shivering despite our warm clothes by the time we reached the car park staging point for the five…
Sinai 2009 – Part 1
The enchanting ululations of half a dozen mosques broadcasting call to prayer woke me before 5am and I came to consciousness with the sense of standing on the edge of the city, which comes from 17 hours in the air…
Barber Shop Photos #6 – Paragliding Rainbow Beach
This photo is of the sand blow near the township of Rainbow Beach. The area is known for the myriad of coloured sands along the steep sandstone cliff along the coast, and it is from here that the beach and…
A Class of its own.
Most travellers dream of an upgrade. The mysterious world behind the curtain is tantalising, and made all the more desirable by the short taste of luxury we see as we traipse like cattle into the live export rows just behind…
Playing in the mud
I bought my car for two reasons: the reason I tell everybody, and the real reason. I tell everybody that I bought my Pajero for its reliability, flexibility and to have the opportunity to take my everyday car…
The Night Bus to Vientiane
It was after 11pm as the bus hurtled through the night. We departed almost thirty minutes behind schedule – not bad as far as Laos buses were concerned. The afternoon swelter had slowly diminished and it was only now, at…
On ya bike! – Karst Riding
(The family that races together…) Coming from a family where motorcycles are a part of daily conversation and weekly life, I’ve always been surprisingly cautious about throwing a leg over, particularly when overseas. While most of my family spend many…